Two Somali nationals alleged to have desecrated the Kenyan flag during a CAF Champions League match at Nyayo Stadium have been arraigned at the Milimani Law Courts.
The teenagers, aged between 14 and 17, appeared before Senior Principal Magistrate Rose Gitau at the Children’s Court on Friday.
Both were escorted into court under security.
Their arrest followed the circulation of a viral video on September 20, 2025, showing several fans mishandling the Kenyan flag during the clash between Mogadishu City Club and Kenya Police FC.
In the footage, some supporters were seen stomping, kicking, and tossing the flag.
One individual rubbed it against his crotch, while another, dressed in a Somali sarong, was captured grabbing the flag from a Police FC fan and throwing it to the ground.
The clips sparked public outrage, prompting investigations and the swift arrest of the suspects.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen condemned the act, terming it “regrettable” and ordering the arrest and prosecution of those involved. He warned that foreigners implicated in the incident would also face deportation.
“We cannot allow anyone, whether citizen or not, to insult our freedom and symbols of unity,” Murkomen said during a security forum in Wajir. Somalia’s Ambassador to Kenya, Jabril Ibrahim Abdulle, also denounced the incident, distancing Mogadishu from the actions of the fans.
Kenya’s National Flag, Emblems and Names Act (Cap. 99) criminalises acts of disrespect against the national flag, anthem, or emblems, prescribing penalties of a fine or up to six months’ imprisonment.
Murkomen cautioned that Kenya would deal firmly with offenders: “Being in Kenya is a privilege. When you mock our national symbols, you risk losing that privilege.”
